Andy Murray rules himself of Australian Open over Covid-19 issues
Andy Murray will miss the Australian Open after failing to find a workable quarantine, the former world No1 announced on Friday.
Murray missed out on flying on one of the chartered flights to Australia for the opening Grand Slam of the season after testing positive for Covid-19.
The five-time runner-up in Melbourne had still hoped to travel Down Under at a later date but admitted on Friday afternoon that was no longer possible.
The three-time Grand Slam champion said: “Gutted to share that I won’t be flying out to Australia to compete at the Australian Open.
“We’ve been in constant dialogue with Tennis Australia to try and find a solution which would allow some form of workable quarantine but we couldn’t make it work.
“I want to thank everyone there for their efforts. I’m devastated not to be playing out in Australia - it’s a country and tournament that I love.”
Murray last played at the Australian Open back in 2019, losing in a marathon five-set match against Roberto Bautista Agut after which he hinted he might be forced into retirement ahead of a second hip operation.
But he made his Grand Slam return at last year’s French Open before playing at the US Open.
Following his Covid setback, there were already concerns in the Murray camp about getting match ready in Australia under the strict quarantine rules put in place by officials in Australia before the decision was finally made not to travel.
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